Europa Games and Military History

Tag: Spanish Civil War (Page 13 of 14)

July 1938

Jul I 38

Insurgent Player Turn.

The 2 Mad XX converts to the 18 XX. The withdraw in Andulasia continues; many units there have still not gained the safety of the mountains. The failed Loyalist attack on the 14 XX has left some of their forces in an exposed position (hex 2820) and an attack on them is considered but declined. The Insurgents have plenty of supply available at the front now, but are hesitant to risk any losses because they will be unable to easily replace any lost artillery.

Loyalist Turn.

An I-15 is rebuilt. The forces in the south continue to advance to occupy territory abandoned by the Rebels but don’t do anything to hurry them along. It is decided to make 1 strong attack instead of 2 weak ones. The 55 XX (+) (hex 2920) is selected as the target. The division has some armor support in the form of the Dro II, but not enough to achieve AECD. The Rebels do manage to get DAS thru again, and again an I-15 avoids the escorts only to be shot down by a unit in the mission force, in this case the Nat Mxd B. With greater strength on the ground, the Loyalists manage to carry the position in a hard fight (4:1 0 = EX).

Jul II 38

Insurgent Player Turn.

Some precious artillery is used to upgrade the 3 Sor XX to the 50 XX. The withdraw continues on the right flank.

Loyalist Turn.

The French border is closed. An I-15 is rebuilt. Almeria is retaken as its Civil Guard is overrun. Following up on the attack earlier in the month, the 54 XX (hex 2921) is attacked. This time, the air battle which results is unusually bloody. An I-15 kills a Mxd A unit but is itself aborted, while the Nationalist’s other Mxd A is killed by an I-16. Some DAS still gets thru, however, but it is not enough to allow the 54 XX to hold out (4:1 – 1 = EX). There was a bit of extra attack supply available, enough to allow another attack on the 21 XX (+) (hex 3019), although only a fraction of the attack force was fully supplied. In the end, it was just enough to let the Republicans carry the position (3:1 0 = EX).

June 1938

Jun I 38

Insurgent Player Turn.

The Atlantic is experiencing rough weather.

It’s also a rough time for the Insurgents, who aren’t able to do much but patch the front lines together. The artillery shortage is threatening to become critical, as several divisions exist only at cadre or unsupported strength and are being held out of line pending the arrival of more guns to equip them with. There is no shortage of men to rebuild units with, but if losses continue, it is feared it will become necessary to send divisions to the front without artillery support.

Loyalist Turn.

The French border is closed again. An I-15 is again rebuilt. Attacks continue south of the Guadiana. The 14 XX and supporting units (hex 3019) are pushed back (4:1 0 = DR) while 60 XX and some non-divisionals (hex 2820), despite presence of DAS not made availabe to 14 XX, are wiped out in a bloody battle (3:1 -1 = EX).

Jun II 38

Insurgent Player Turn.

The losses sustain in the first part of the month and the shortage of artillery make it necessary to shorten the front. A pullback in eastern Andulasia is reluctanly authorized. The new line will be in easily defended mountain terrain east of Granada. Some other minor adjustments are made further north. Unfortunately, it will take some time for all units to reach the new positions.

Loyalist Turn.

The French border is reopened. An I-15 is rebuilt. An attack on the 10 Cor XXX at Don Benito (hex 2720) brings on another air battle. The Loyalists are again unable to prevert Insurgent DAS from getting thru. Even more embarrassingly, a Nationalist Mxd A units manages to abort an intercepting I-15 that managed to get past the escorts. On the ground, the Rebels stiffen and hold the town (2:1 0 = AS). The Republicans are unwilling to forgo further attacks, feeling to do so would stop the momentum they had enjoyed earlier in the month. Therefore, an attack is ordered on the 14 XX and some non-divisionals (hex 3020) despite the lack of any more attack supply. The attack is a complete failure, as the Loyalists troops break and take heavy losses when their ammo runs out (2:1 -1 = AH). In Andulasia, the Loyalist troops (mostly Anarchist units) follow the Rebel withdrawl, but don’t make any attempt to disrupt their retreat.

May 1938

May I 38

Insurgent Player Turn.

A Nationalist CR 32 is rebuilt, but a CTV CR 32 remains out of action. The 2 AV XX is upgraded to the 60 XX. An air raid on Madrid destroys a SB-2 on the ground.

The failed attack on the 6 Nav XXX and subsequent retreat of the Loyalist forces has left their 2 XXX almost surrounded (hex 2517). Franco orders that it be destroyed. The Loyalists seem to be withdrawing in good order but are hit by addition Rebel forces as they retreat and collapse (5:1 -1 = DR) (ZOC Kill).

Loyalist Turn.

The French border is reopened. An I-15 is rebuilt. Plentiful manpower and equipment reserves mean that the troops lost in the destruction of the 2 XXX are quickly replaced. Intelligence reports indicating that the Insurgents have even larger manpower reserves are balanced by news that the Rebels are still quite short on artillery and have difficulty equiping any units that they must rebuild.

Despite the failures north of the rail line, the People’s Army command orders the offensive to continue. The 15 XX and some supporting units are targeted (hex 2819). Once again, the Loyalist air force has only fighters operational, so only the Rebels are able to fly any close support missions. However, the DAS is unable to prevent the loss of the reinforced 15 XX, although the Loyalists take a fair number of casualities (3:1 0 = EX).

The Loyalists are beginning to have trouble getting supplies to the forces on the front lines of the offensive. There is no problem yet in keeping basic supply flowing, but it is becoming difficult to get the extra ammunition needed to sustain the attacks foward. To help improve the supply situation, several weak divisions (2-3-5’s) are pulled out of line and ordered to begin carting supplies forward.

May II 38

Insurgent Turn.

The Insurgents, having no real plan for offensive action in 1938 beyond a vague idea that it may be possible to renew attacks along the high-volume rail line leading eastward to Madrid, merely shuffle the lines a bit and await the opportunity to launch local counterattacks such as April’s attack on 2 XXX. Air raids continue to be sent out, mostly ineffectively, though at Madrid a KL Me109B aborts an I-16 which was trying to bypass it and get to the bombers.

Loyalist Turn.

An I-16 is rebuilt in what seems to be becoming a bi-monthly routine. The use of weak divisions to bring up supply allows 2 attack to be launched. In both, Loyalist air units are unable to keep Rebel DAS from getting thru, while there are still no bombers or attack planes available to the Loyalists. Still, the People’s Army manages to push back the 55 XX (hex 2920) (3:1 0 = DR), while to the north, heavy casualties are inflicted on the Rebel 54 XX(reinforced) (3:1 0 = DH).

April 1938

Apr I 38

The weather is now clear everywhere.

Insurgent Player Turn.

The Nationalist Ju.52 is rebuilt. The Cac XX converts to the 16 XX.
Insurgent air units continue to launch raids, now in the north as well as the south. At Gijon, a KL He45 is aborted by AA fire. At Murcia, an escorting Nationalist CR-32 is killed by an I-15 but manages to abort its opponent. Loyalist AA guns score a victory here as well, aborting a Nationalist R0-37.

An attack is launched south of the Tajo into difficult, mountainous terrain (hex 2616). An advance here will clear the flank of the drive on Madrid and threaten the flank of the Loyalist offensive to the south. Despite GS, the terrain proves to much for the attackers and they are thrown back (3:1 -3 = AR).

Loyalist Turn.

The French border is closed again. An I-16 is rebuilt. The Loyalists follow the retreating Rebels across the Tajo and launch an attack against the 54 XX (hex 2415) to isolate the 4 Urg XXX at Talavera de la Reina. Pressing forward despite losses, they destoy the 54 XX and cut off the force at Talavera de la Reina (3:1 -1 = HX) (ZOC kill).

Continuing the offensive, the People’s Army attacks the 1 Mad XX (hes 2719). A disastrous showing in the air (both I-16’s aborted, 1 by the KL Me109B and 1 by a Nationalist CR-32) allows heavy DAS for the Insurgents, resulting in a botched attack (3:2 0 = AR). However, a renewed attack an the 14 XX (hex 3018), with the Insurgent air engaged further north, smashes the Rebel division (6:1 -2 = DE).

Apr II 38

No change in the weather.

Insurgent Turn.

Th KL He 45 is rebuilt. In yet another air raid on Gijon, an I-15 manages to kill a Nationalist CR32 escorting the bombers, which fail to hit any targets. The 4 Urg XXX attempts to break out of encirclement. Attacking (hex 2516) with help from units outside the pocket and air units flying support, it is able to extricate itself and in the process destroys the PA 47 XX ( 5:1 0 = DR) (ZOC Kill).

Loyalist Turn.

An 1-16 is rebuilt. The aerial victory over the CR32 at Gijon has left the Insurgent bombers based at Oviedo without any fighter protection. Trying to exploit this, the I-15 based at Gijon attempts to bomb the Insurgent airbase, but is aborted by AA fire.

Two attacks are made attempting to clear the flanks of the attack alonf the rail line. North of the rails,the 6 Nav XX is attacked (hex 2619). Both sides throw in a lot of planes. A large air battle breaks out, but the fighters on neither side accomplish much. Both sides manage to get their close support aircraft thru. The fact that the Loyalist troops are attacking across the river prevents a successful assault (2:1 -1 = AR). To the south, the 15 XX is attacked (hex 2919). Despite only Insurgent aircraft appearing over the battlefield here, the defenders are not protected by a river line and are pushed back (4:1 -1 = DR).

March 1938

Mar I 38

The weather reverts to the same pattern as at the start of February–mud in the north and clear in the south.

Insurgent Player Turn.

The Nationalist RO-37 and CTV SM-79 are rebuilt. In yet another air raid on Madrid, an escorting KL Me109B kills an I-16. Making a desperate attempt to prevent the iniative from passing entirely to the Loyalists, the Insurgents launch an attack on the 2nd XXX (hex 2516) along the Madrid rail line. The Loyalists are pushed back but are able to withdraw in good order (3:1 -1 = DR).

Loyalist Turn.

The I-16 is rebuilt. The spring offensive begins in a most inauspicious manner, as Insurgent forces repulse the initial attack (hex 2818) (2:1 0 = AS). Some Loyalists air units had provided GS, but Insurgent DAS was also an important factor in the battle. No counter attack is possible along the Madrid rail line at this time.

Mar II 38

No change in the weather.

Insurgent Turn.

An air raid on Murcia results in the loss of the Mxd T unit, killed by an I-15 which bypassed an escorting Nationalist CR-32.

The Insurgents follow up their earlier success with an assault on Talavera de la Reina. A wild air battle results as both sides attempt to provide close support. Honors in the air go to the Insurgents. A CTV CR-32 on CAP aborts an I-16 attempting to get to the bombers, and a KL Me109B bypasses escorting fighters to abort an R-Z. On the ground, the Insurgents again manage to push back the defenders, but the People’s Army is continues to fall back in good order (4:1 -2 = DR).

Loyalist Turn.

The French border is reopened. An I-15 is rebuilt. Despite the earlier setback and the fall of Talaver de la Reina, the Loyalist continue their offensive. Another big air battle erupts. This time, and I-16 is aborted by an escorting KL Me109B, but another I-16 gets past a Nationalist CR-32 and kills a Nationalist Ju.52. Therefore, no close support is available to either side in the ensuing ground attack. (The loss of the R-Z has left the Loyalists with only fighters operational, while other Insurgent aircraft were otherwise busy; see below.) The Loyalists are able to advance against the 2 Av XX (hex 2718) (3:1 -1 = DR.) Further south (hex 3018) a strong attack is stopped by the 14 XX and aircraft flying DAS (5:1 -2 = AS).

February 1938

Feb I 38

Muddy weather prevails in the north, the weather in the south is now clear.

Insurgent Player Turn.

The clear weather in the south brings on increased air raids. At Murcia, an escorting Nationalist CR-32 kills an I-15, while at Madrid, a CTV CR-32 and an I-16 abort each other.

Loyalist Turn.

The aborted I-16 is rebuilt. Loyalist troops are not quite prepared to launch their spring offensive. An air raid on Cordoba fails and an escorting 1-16 is aborted by a Nationalist CR-32.

Feb II 38

Bad weather returns to Spain–winter weather again hits the north while the mud returns in the south.

Insurgent Turn.

The Hue XX is upgraded to the 55 XX and the 3 Mad XX to the 24 XX. Even in the mud, air raids are continued. At Murcia, AA fire aborts a RO37. At Madrid, an I-16 manages to bypass an escorting KL Me109B and abort a CTV SM-79, though another SM-79 gets thru and hits the rail marshalling yards.

Loyalist Turn.

The mud precludes opening the spring offensive. The Loyalist forces conserve their strength and wait.

FEB 37

Feb I 1937

(D=Winter C=Clear)

Although the weather remains favorable the commitment of new Loyalist forces to the Tejo sector makes an attack still suicidal. We continue to build up strengh and shift more tropps from the north around Gijon to the Vitoria area. the Italian Volunteer Corps parades through Sevilla and them heads for the front, carrying its own supplies with it. We reinforce Cordoba, a sector which so far was absurdly weak and is now defended by a division.

The Loyalists rail their two strike corps south and prepare another offensive, whis time thrusting northward east of Madrid. Our troops are cleared of the mountains and forced to withdraw into the plain with heavy losses.

JAN 1937

Jan I 1937

(C=Winter D=Mud)

The desperate need for some military sucesses leaads to a small but effective plot: the huge amount of artillery shuipped in as Italian aid this turn lets us form the first Artillery brigade, and this, together with elements of the arriving Italian Volunteer Corps, assaults and captures Gion within a few days, as the Loyalist fleet is unable to lend ist full support to the defenders tue to the bad weather (storm). The fall fo the city [5:1 -1 HX] reel waves of terror through the Northern rebel provinces as the Asturian gobernito government flees the country. Along the hills north of thre Tejo valley, we secretly start assembling our armored forces and the elite regiments of the Legion Entrangere. From here, we plan to push north-eastwrd once the mud ceases, to once and for all end the Loyalist threat to cut our territory in two.

Unaware of the dangers looming in the rugged hills south of them, more Loyalist troops push down the valley as the victors of Zaragoza rejoin the front. At Vitoria, the Loyalists mass their tanks for the first time in this conflict and eliminate some delaying forces north of the city. They are now threatening the communications to the city, as well as advancing along the north-southern rail line. Over the vicinity the air forces contest their strenghs for the first time, and despite heroic efforts of the Nationalist fighters our air force recieves a crushing defeat [1x bmbr killed, 1x bmbr abort, no Insrgent losses].

Losses: Ins: 4 Inf, 2

Air Loy: 2 Inf

Jan II 1937

(D=Winter C=Clear)

Although we`ve been hoping for clear wether all time we have no yet finished our offensive preperations, as the ad roadnet as well as our grim situation prevented us from assembling any strategic reserves. So we hurry up reinforcements to the front and build up strengh on the southern part of the Tejo river.

The Loylists rush the forces that guarded the cut-off division to the front. However, due to a lack of attack supply they do not commence any offensive actions. Fornt line strength is now between two in some mountain areas and 6 or 7 throughout the rest of the country, with 10 north of Vitoria.

Losses: Ins: 0 Loy: 0

DEC 1936

Dec I 1936

(D=Mud C=Mud)

We have decided now to cancel all attack operations until spring. Only Cordoba is taken by the colums sweeping eastwards to the Loyalist-occupied country [8:1 -3]. Again we shift forces to close the front gaps in the north, while the few mobile units we have are regegated to back-line duty and to transport supply.

The Loyalists raise more than 8 new divisions and assemble them around Zaragoza. However, no ttack is yet to be made, instead, the offensive down the Tejo valley is resumed, pushing back our colums to the exit of the alley [7:1 -3 DR]

No losses

Dec II 1936

(D=Mud, C=Winter)

Despite our defensive efforts, Zaragoza falls [5:1 -2, DR], ist garrison marches into imprisonment fater moths of curageous resistance. All our determination could not prevent the loss of the city, and we will have again to shorten our front to prevent more divisions from getting cut off. The Loyalists now securly hold a rail connection to the Northern Provinces and immediately start to send military aid north.

Losses: Ins: 1 art 8

Inf, Loy: 3 Inf

NOV 1936

Nov I 1936

(D=Mud)

Fighting ceases on most fronts except in the verx north-east, where the Loyalists try to reach a secure north-south rail line. As most insurgent reinforcements are stuck in the mud our lines get pushed back, while south of that an operation to retake Calatyud failes with two of our best divisions cut off and surrounded. Of our three attacks, two succeed, but despiteheavy losses we cannot improve our situation [1 x 5:1 -3 AS, 2 x 6:1 -3 DR + EX]

Elsewhere, Malaga and Cordoba eat gras.

Losses: Ins: 4 Inf

Loyalists: 2 Inf

Nov II 1936

(D=Mud, C=Mud)

The assault on the anarchist strongholds in Andalusia opens with the attack on Malaga. Meeting fierce resistance, we are nevertheless able to secure the city and take alrge amounts of prisoners. Immediately the security organs start their work [5:1 -2 DR]. Some conterattacks are made to stall the Loyalist offensives and to improve the situation of the Zaragoza garrison, but the wether prevents any major operations. We manage to relieve one of the two cut off divisions, but the other cannot even be ressupplied. The gap in our front at Vitoria cannot be closed as reinforcements hurry to the front.

As news from the fall of Malaga spread the country, more anarhists surrender. Refugees pour out of Cordoba and bring news that the stocks run out in the city. In the North, the Loyalist exploit the achieved breaktrough and take Logrono [8:1 -3 DR], the cut of division surrenders to a concentric assault [6:1 -3]. After securing the railway junction to Zaragoza, the Loyalists now mass in front of the city, obviosly planning an assault onto the city itself.

Losses: Ins: 2,5 Inf

Loy: 1 Art 3 Inf 1 Arm

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